EP0515781A1 - Display counter - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a display counter which facilitates operation and reading of its electrical control systems. To this end, a receptacle (15), which contains the operating elements (22) for the electrically drivable operating units and illuminating devices (11) and the like, is introduced in the form of an insert (15) into the cavity (18) of a hollow upright (6) or into a hollow cross-bar (7) connecting the uprights (6), without entailing substantial modification of the structure and partitioning of the display counter (1). As a result of the invention, a considerable saving of space and weight is achieved, and recognition of functional displays and operation of the electrical units are made much easier. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a sales counter with a lower table, an operator-side worktop and with a counter top receiving a merchandise shelf that connects to the countertop on the buyer side and which has a plurality of posts arranged obliquely upwards from the worktop for supporting a counter top that closes the counter top on the buyer side Disc construction contains, the sales counter having electrically driven work equipment, lighting and associated operating elements, which are combined in a container and the container is connected to a post at a point facing the seller.

Such a construction of a sales counter has become known from EP-A 0 279 789.

In practice, all the facilities required for electrical actuation and control are located in the lower table of the sales counter, for which a special space, especially in the form of a drawer, is reserved. This has the advantage that the electrotechnical part is located away from the spread goods and the operating surfaces of the sales counter. A cumbersome handling must then be accepted, however, because the arrangement of the electrotechnical part near the floor makes it difficult to operate and read the control states.

EP-A 0 279 789 describes a way of avoiding these difficulties by attaching an electrical console for receiving the electrical operating elements to the front wall of a post in the seller's view in full view of the seller, the console housing being intended to form an enlargement of the showcase post.

Such a measure, however, brings about a design which significantly changes the conventional basic shape of the display case, which has an aesthetically disturbing effect and, moreover, acts as a protruding element like a dirt trap.

The invention has for its object to develop a sales counter avoiding the problems described, in which the operation and reading of the electrical control of all units can be done from an ergonomic point of view, without a significant change in the design and space distribution of the sales counter is required.

This object is achieved with the invention in that the operating elements for the electrically drivable work equipment, lighting and the like are combined in a container designed as an insert, which is inserted into the cavity of a hollow post and / or into a hollow cross member connecting the posts.

The separation of the control element from the work equipment to be controlled results in a considerable saving in space and weight, because it has been shown that the drawer previously required to hold the electrical units has become dispensable and that of the drawer so far occupied space has become free for other purposes, for example as storage space. The arrangement of the control element within the post or the crossmember means that the control elements and the function display are in the field of vision of the upright operator and are easily accessible for operation without impairing the aesthetic appearance of the display case or acting as a dirt trap.

For this purpose, it proves to be advantageous if the insert has a keyboard (control panel) with a function display for the individual control element on its seller's front. This keyboard can, for example, be closed on the outside by a film which is connected to pressure-sensitive switches which are connected to the insert. In addition, the insert has one or more microprocessors and a connector arrangement for the power supply and for the pulse generator. The cables for the power supply and the pulse generators are preferably routed through the cavity of the post or the cross member to a spaced-apart electronics as well as to the work equipment, lighting fixtures and the like.

Fig. 1:

einen Vertikalschnitt durch eine Verkaufstheke,

Fig. 2:

eine teilweise Vorderansicht der Verkaufstheke aus der Sicht des Verkäufers,

Fig. 3:

einen Querschnitt nach der Linie III - III durch einen Pfosten der Verkaufstheke,

Fig. 4:

einen Querschnitt durch den Pfosten gem. Fig. 3 mit einem darin integrierten Einsatz für die Bedienungsglieder

Fig. 5:

eine teilweise Vorderansicht einer Tastatur (Bedientableau) des Einsatzes gemäß Fig. 4 und

Fig. 6:

eine teilweise Vorderansicht der Verkaufstheke analog zu Fig. 2 mit einer Anordnung des Einsatzes in einer Traverse.

Details of the invention emerge from the drawing. In it, the invention is shown schematically and for example. Show it:

Fig. 1:

a vertical section through a sales counter,

Fig. 2:

a partial front view of the sales counter from the perspective of the seller,

Fig. 3:

a cross section along the line III - III through a post of the sales counter,

Fig. 4:

a cross section through the post acc. Fig. 3 with an integrated insert for the controls

Fig. 5:

a partial front view of a keyboard (control panel) of the insert according to FIGS. 4 and

Fig. 6:

a partial front view of the sales counter analogous to FIG. 2 with an arrangement of the insert in a traverse.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, a sales counter (1) of conventional design is shown, which has a lower table (3) and a counter top (2). In the counter top (2) there is a goods support floor (4) on which the goods are spread out and can be recognized by the buyer through a pane construction (9).

The counter top (2) has a plurality of posts (6) which rise obliquely from a worktop (5) and which are connected at their upper edge by a cross member (7) in the form of a ridge profile. On this cross member (7) there is a swivel bearing (10) for mounting fittings (8), which in turn support the pane construction (9). The disc construction (9) can be pivoted upward around this pivot bearing (10).

In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, in at least one of the posts (6) designed as a hollow profile there is a container (15) designed as an insert on the side accessible to the seller, which can be regarded as an operating part for a control. This insert (15) is intended to accommodate all those electrical control elements which are required for the control and function display of the electrical work equipment, lighting and the like arrangements. The operating elements are thus distanced from the equipment to be operated. In the example in FIG. 1, the lighting (11), the evaporator (12) and the fan (13) are indicated as such electrotechnical work tools.

With (14) in Fig. 1, a drawer or a storage tray is designated, which were required in known sales counters to accommodate the entire electrotechnical device. The inventive separation of operating elements and the electrical equipment to be controlled makes this drawer (14) unnecessary, the space of which can be used for other purposes, for example as storage space.

In the embodiment of the invention, the post (6) according to FIG. 3 consists of a hollow profile (16), in particular of a light metal extruded profile, which is penetrated by a web (17), whereby cavities (18) are formed. The larger of the two cavities (18), which comes to rest on the seller side, can easily be used for receiving the insert (15) (see FIG. 4) by a partial area of the wall (20), for example along the cutting plane (21) separates. The insert (15) is accordingly designed in the manner of a cassette, it being important to ensure that the outer outer contour (24) the insert follows the predetermined contour of the post (6), so that the impression is given as if the insert (15) were an integral part of the post (6).

Fig. 4 shows that the insert (15) has an interior for receiving the electrical control part (23), which is closed to the outside by a control panel (22). This control panel (22), of which the example of a partial front view is shown in FIG. 5, is intended to have pressure-sensitive switches and function indicators (displays).

The electrical control part (23) is connected to an electronic system, which is located elsewhere on the sales counter (1). The electrical connection can be made, for example, by means of plug-in connection elements, it being advisable to route the cables for the power supply and the pulse generator through the cavity of the post.

In the example in FIG. 6, an alternative to FIG. 2 is shown, according to which it is possible to connect the cross member (7) to the insert (15). This option is particularly useful when the crossbeam (7) can be designed as a hollow profile and its position is within the range of movement of the operator.

In a special embodiment of the invention, the front side of the insert (15) is covered by a film (25) which bears appropriate imprints for the function of the individual pressure-sensitive pushbuttons located behind the film. The following switch arrangements can be provided, for example:
Key switch for counter light (top) with a colored light-emitting diode for function display;
Key switch for counter light (recess) with a colored function display;
Key switch for light (pocket storage) with a colored function display;
Push button switch for temperature zone (1) with a colored function display;
Display for cooling function;
additional displays for fans, speed information, output voltage and the like;
Button switch for window heating;
Push button switch for body roll edge heating;
Button switch for defrost heating;
Key switch for humidification;
Key switch for function control of the cooling unit;
Button switch for the disinfection arrangement;
Push button switch for a cold steam generator.

The electrical or electronic configuration of the operating elements or the electrical control part and the control panel can be used according to the respective operational requirements conventional experiences are designed, supplemented or changed. To this extent, the invention leaves the skilled person free hand.

PARTS LIST

1

Sales counter

2nd

Counter top

3rd

Under table

4th

Product support floor

5

Countertop

6

post

7

traverse

8th

fitting

9

Pane construction

10th

Swivel bearing

11

lighting

12

Evaporator

13

fan

14

Drawer or storage shelf

15

Insert (control unit of the control) - container -

16

Hollow profile

17th

web

18th

cavity

19th

Screw channel

20th

Wall part

21

Cutting plane

22

Control panel

23

electrical control unit

24th

Outer contour

25th

foil

Claims (6)

Sales counter (1) with a lower table (3), a worktop on the operator side (5) and a counter top (2), which connects to the worktop (5) on the buyer's side and accommodates a goods shelf (4), which has several of the worktop (5 ) contains an upright post (6) for supporting a pane construction that closes off the counter top (2) on the buyer's side, the sales counter (2) including electrically driven work equipment (12, 13), lighting (11) and operating elements (22) assigned to them which are combined in a container (15) and the container (15) is connected to a post (6) at a point facing the seller, characterized in that the container in the form of an insert (15) into the cavity (18 ) of a hollow post (6) or in a hollow cross member (7) connecting the posts. Sales counter according to Claim 1, characterized in that the side of the insert (15) facing the seller has a profile (24) which continues the outer contour of the post (6) or the crossmember (7). Sales counter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the insert (15) has a keyboard (control panel (22)) with a function display for the individual control element on its seller-side front. Sales counter according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the insert (15) has one or more microprocessors and a plug connection arrangement for the power supply and the pulse generator. Sales counter according to claim 4, characterized in that the cables for the power supply and the pulse generator are led through the cavity (18) of the post (6) or the crossmember (7) to a spaced-apart electronics as well as the work equipment, lighting fixtures and the like. Sales counter according to Claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the seller-side front of the insert (15) is formed by a film (25) which covers pressure-sensitive switches of the electrical control part (23) contained in the insert (15).

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